Novak Djokovic eyes more Grand Slam glory as Iga Swiatek returns under doping cloud
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The 37-year-old Novak Djokovic is the last remaining member of the "Big Four" and has said he is still going strong in his aim to win a 25th Grand Slam.
PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY – Novak Djokovic is confident that he can still win tennis Grand Slams, as he bids for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and record 25th Major crown in 2025.
The Serb starts the new season at the warmup Brisbane International event from Dec 29 to Jan 5 and he is joined at the Queensland Tennis Centre by the top-ranked women’s player Aryna Sabalenka, who is gunning for a third Melbourne Park trophy.
There is also the mixed-team United Cup in Perth and Sydney starting on Dec 27, headlined by world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in her first tournament since revelations that she served a one-month doping suspension.
The spotlight, however, will be on the 37-year-old Djokovic.
It is the first season since he began playing that none of the other so-called “Big Four” will be on the other side of the net following the retirements in 2024 of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Roger Federer called it quits in 2022.
As they faded, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz stepped up to become the new Grand Slam kings, with both men opting against a warmup tournament leading into the first Slam of the year which begins on Jan 12.
As doubts grew over Djokovic’s motivation and ability to take down the new guard after a disappointing 2024, he stunned the tennis world by hiring Murray to coach him.
“I still will try to go strong because I feel like my body is serving me well. I still have motivation to win Grand Slams, make more history,” said the Serb, who needs one more Major title to surpass Margaret Court’s 24.
“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I asked Andy to work with me, because I still have big plans, so as long as that’s the case, I will keep going.”
By the world No. 7’s standards, 2024 was not kind, failing to win a Slam, claiming just one title – Olympic gold in Paris – and ending his season in October.
A resurgent Grigor Dimitrov, Holger Rune, and Frances Tiafoe are also playing in Brisbane, as is Australian Nick Kyrgios, who returns after injuries restricted him to just one ATP Tour singles match in two years.
He and Djokovic are set to play doubles together.
In the women’s tournament, challenging Sabalenka will be America’s Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, ranked seven and eight respectively, along with former world No. 2 Ons Jabeur and veteran Victoria Azarenka.
Sabalenka, who beat China’s high-flying Zheng Qinwen in the 2024 Australian Open final, had a sensational season which culminated in being named WTA Player of Year in December.
The 26-year-old reached seven finals and won four titles, successfully retaining her Melbourne Park title, lifting her first US Open and winning WTA 1000 events in Cincinnati and Wuhan.
“I feel fresh and ready to go,” the Belarusian said.
“I love Australia and I always come here hungry. You work hard on lots of things in the pre-season, and the first tournament before the Major is where you can try it out and see what’s going to work well for you, and what’s not.”
Sabalenka also recaptured the No. 1 ranking from five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, whose reputation was rocked in November when it was revealed she tested positive for a banned heart medication in August.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted that the violation was not intentional, and the Polish star escaped with a one-month sanction.
Swiatek called it “the worst experience of my life”, but vowed: “I know I will be stronger than ever.”
Her case is similar to that of Australian Open winner Sinner, who is still waiting for the outcome of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against his initial exoneration for twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.
Joining Swiatek at the United Cup is world No. 3 Coco Gauff and fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini.
Two-time Australian Open winner Naomi Osaka begins her season at the Auckland Classic, hoping for a better year than 2024 when she failed to win a title.
Former US Open champions Emma Raducanu and Bianca Andreescu are also starters in New Zealand. AFP
